Wales add Halfpenny to coaching staff for Japan tour

Leigh Halfpenny won 101 caps for Wales and also played four Tests for the British and Irish Lions

Wales have added former full-back Leigh Halfpenny to the coaching team for next month's trip to Japan.

Halfpenny will work under interim head coach Matt Sherratt for the two Test tour in what the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) describe as a skills coach role.

This will include responsibility for kicking with the senior squad, a role that has been occupied by Neil Jenkins for almost 20 years.

Sherratt will also be joined in his backroom staff by his Cardiff defence coach Gethin Jenkins, Harlequins duo Danny Wilson (forwards) and Adam Jones (scrum), and Gloucester's Rhys Thomas (assistant forwards coach).

Other coaches who were part of Warren Gatland's backroom staff, including Jonathan Humphreys, Mike Forshaw, Alex King and Rob Howley, will not be involved in Japan.

"It's great to have Leigh complete the coaching team for our two Tests this summer," said Sherratt.

"For him to pass on his knowledge and experience to our young backs will be brilliant."

Halfpenny will be involved for the first time as the senior side's kicking coach and will begin the role next week.

The 36-year-old former British and Irish Lion has left Harlequins and has been tipped to continue playing by joining French second division side Beziers next season.

"To be asked to work with the men's national squad this summer is a huge honour and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity," said Halfpenny.

"I enjoyed my experience coaching with the Under-20s a few years ago and I'm looking forward to continuing my development in this area over the next few weeks."

Jenkins, who has been an important mentor for Halfpenny during his career with the pair remaining close, is currently helping Wales Under-20s before the Junior World Championship starts later this month and will not be in Japan.

"Neil has been a massive influence on me throughout my career," said Halfpenny.

"He's one of the best that there has ever been and I've been privileged to have learnt so much from him.

"I hope I can take that knowledge forward into this role."

Sherratt will again act in the caretaker role he adopted during the Six Nations after Gatland resigned in February.

New WRU performance director Dave Reddin is leading the hunt for Gatland's permanent successor.

In Japan, Wales will look to end a record run of successive 17 Test losses, having not won an international since October 2023 in a run that includes two successive Six Nations Wooden Spoons.

Wales will play the Test matches against Eddie Jones' Japan side in Kitakyushu and Kobe aiming not to slip from their lowest ever position of 12th in the world rankings.

The first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July in the city where Wales held their Rugby World Cup training camp in 2019.

The second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days later.